Sheffield healthcare company breaks into the Chinese market

A Yorkshire healthcare company has marked its 45th year in business by breaking into the Chinese market.

JRI Orthopaedics has won a contract to produce hip replacement implants in its Sheffield manufacturing facility for a Beijing-based medical company to sell into the Chinese market.

As well as a manufacture of orthopaedic implants and surgical instruments, JRI is also aiming to have its own hip replacement products registered for sale in China early next year and has a distribution deal lined up with its Chinese partner.

Keith Jackson, managing director, said: “Despite the fact that China leads the world in low cost manufacturing, our world class manufacturing capabilities and efficiencies have allowed us to defy conventions.

“The Chinese economy is huge and significant investment is being made in health care. Patient expectations are increasing and there is a really good appetite for innovative British brands.

“Our Chinese partner believes that being able to offer quality British manufactured products at competitive prices will give them a significant advantage, over both other Chinese companies and the US-based multi-nationals currently selling into the hip replacement segment of the rapidly growing orthopaedic implants market in China.”

The companies first approach one another when Keith was invited on the biggest trade mission from the UK to China in 2013, led by the Prime Minister.

Keith added: “We are now manufacturing products in Sheffield that were designed in China and will be used to treat Chinese patients.

“The Chinese regulatory approvals for our products are well advanced and we have a great partner company in China to promote the JRI brand in China as soon as we achieve this.”

JRI Orthopaedics operates from a state-of-the-art manufacturing base in Chapeltown.

Founded 45 years ago by renowned orthopaedic surgeon Mr Ronald Furlong, the company aims to give patients with a better quality of life for longer by providing the best solutions in joint reconstruction, repair and regeneration.

JRI became the first in the world to use a hydroxyapatite ceramic (H-A.C) coating on hip replacements. H-A.C is a synthetic version of the natural mineral present in bones and, by perfecting the coating process, JRI was able to produce an implant that bonds biologically with the patient’s own bone.

JRI’s revolutionary Furlong H-A.C Hip has achieved exceptional clinical results over the last 30 years and is recognized as the best performing uncemented hip implant on the market.

Keith added: “Over 250,000 patients have benefited from this technology giving the recipients the real prospect of a hip for life.

“The company was founded through innovation and this is still hugely important to JRI. We have a very active innovation programme and collaborate with leading centres across Europe on cutting edge research and product development.”